Description: The opening battle of Grant’s sustained offensive against
the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, known as the Overland Campaign,
was fought at the Wilderness, May 5-7. On the morning of May 5, 1864, the
Union V Corps attacked Ewell’s Corps on the Orange Turnpike, while A.P.
Hill’s corps during the afternoon encountered Getty’s Division (VI Corps)
and Hancock’s II Corps on the Plank Road. Fighting was fierce but inconclusive
as both sides attempted to maneuver in the dense woods. Darkness halted
the fighting, and both sides rushed forward reinforcements. At dawn
on May 6, Hancock attacked along the Plank Road, driving Hill’s Corps back
in confusion. Longstreet’s Corps arrived in time to prevent the collapse
of the Confederate right flank. At noon, a devastating Confederate flank
attack in Hamilton’s Thicket sputtered out when Lt. Gen. James Longstreet
was wounded by his own men. The IX Corps (Burnside) moved against the Confederate
center, but was repulsed. Union generals James S. Wadsworth and Alexander
Hays were killed. Confederate generals John M. Jones, Micah Jenkins, and
Leroy A. Stafford were killed. The battle was a tactical draw. Grant, however,
did not retreat as had the other Union generals before him. On May 7, the
Federals advanced by the left flank toward the crossroads of Spotsylvania
Courthouse.